DallyxSodaJDLuvinHoods: Thank you. I thought the name was cute also. I think it suits a teenager too so I figured it would fit nicely. You'll just have to wait and see how everything will turn out. wink...Nobody saw that!

lady rose 05: Thanks for the review. I update pretty often so I won't keep anyone waiting too long.

Rugrats101: I know. Johnny is adorable. I'm going to have to write one of these things about him one day. I want to write one about Dally too. Soon.

Dess: I didn't even know they were disabled. Thank you for telling me and leaving a review. I really appreciate it.

Thanks for the reviews guys. It really makes me happy!

00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Joey's POV

After Soda left, we all went back to joking around and watching TV. Darry and Two-Bit seemed a little perturbed about something, but I didn't think much of it. Darry always had his mind somewhere else and Two-Bit was joking like usual, so I didn't see any reason to fuss over it.

I couldn't stop thinking about Sodapop. I was used to him ditching me for girls but never on my birthday. It hurt a lot more than I was willing to show. It seemed that was all Soda could ever do to me.

When you love something for so long, not getting any returned feelings, you begin to hate it. I could never hate Sodapop but I hated the feelings he gave me. I couldn't help that I loved him. I wish I didn't but I did and it was eating me alive.

Day after day I fell in love with him a little more. It was really hard being the girl walking down the street next to Sodapop. Every time he smiled at a passing girl it broke my heart a little more. I never walked with Soda alone anymore. I just couldn't handle it.

After the party was finally over I walked over to my house and sat on the steps.

I kept replaying the night over and over again. From Soda whispering in my ear to Dally telling me I looked older to the boy I love leaving me for some other girl.

I hated Soda at times like these. Times when he made me feel like I wasn't good enough. Times when he made me feel like a child. Times when he made me want to cry.

Soda never hurt me on purpose. That was part of why I was in love with him. But the more he hurt me, the more I hated him and loved him at the same time.

Who knew a boy like Sodapop Curtis could hurt someone so badly. I was mind-blowing that anyone on the planet could cry because of Sodapop Curtis.

He made me cry as much as he made me smile, which come to think of it, wasn't that often anymore.

I cried over Sodapop all the time these days. I know I should be tough about things like this but I'm not. I'm fourteen years old. I shouldn't have to deal with love and suffering but I do. All for Soda.

I sat in the darkness of my porch steps for hours that night and I cried silently the whole time.

Eventually Sodapop came walking down the street and spotted me. I hurriedly whipped my eyes and tried to smile at him.

He looked a bit down about something and I couldn't help but think that it was about time. It was kind of comforting that I wasn't the only one suffering even if it was only for awhile.

"So how was Marcia?" I didn't like the awkward feeling that had settled over us.

"Maria" He corrected as he sat back on the steps and stared up at the sky.

I waited for him to speak before I opened my mouth again.

"She broke up with me. She said I was…I think she said 'distant and childish'" He looked at me and shrugged.

"I'm sorry" I didn't really know what to say.

"Don't worry about it. She was all wrong for me anyway." He paused looking at me "I'll find the right girl eventually." He went back to staring at the sky.

We sat like that for a few minutes before he tore his eyes away from the stars and stood up.

"You know. You're a really good friend," He smiled at me and hugged his jacket to himself. "I'm glad I have you." Then he turned around and left.

I watched as he walked away. I felt like dying.

He said friend. That's all I was ever going to be and it was time I realized it.

I got up, walked inside to my room and did something that was turning into a bad habit of mine. I cried myself to sleep.

00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Sorry this chapter was so short. I'm going to start writing another one right after this is posted but I don't know if it'll be up today or tomorrow. I promise you'll have it soon and I'll make it longer than this one. Thanks again for the reviews. They really keep me going.